HDF written and performed by EBONY TUSKS. 

Engineered by George Henry Valyer IV at SOUND + VISION Studio, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Assistance provided by Joel T. Bonner. 

Mixed by George Henry Valyer IV at MalaMUTE Studios in East Lawrence, Kansas. 

Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering, Portland, Oregon. 

Album Cover Photo by LeRoy Pristach.

High Dive Records / Intelligent Sound©️. All rights reserved. 

Lyrics: 

came into the world allergic to the counterfeit, quarter water, pocket lint 
obstacles to profit make a youngin’ switch his countenance, beggar flip to monstrous 
doubt from unbelievers strong as faith I’m movin’ mountains with 
 
clouds above unsettled dust, arouse the ghosts in exodus 
inadvertent conjuring, the ground awoke to self-destruct 
onward to oblivion, a march of poisoned animus 
man confronting self, you’ve not the courage nor the stamina 
 
abandon ship or ante up, we plunge the depths when given room 
dove from off the high board to a shark-infested swimming pool 
signatures and dotted lines, bloodlust over principles 
wouldn’t waste the ink but Ima show you what this pen’ll do 
 
sword of truth forever sharp, hostile in assemblage 
love to point some fingers like you haven’t lost appendages 
carpal tunnel grip, I’ve broken arms and cloaked the evidence 
while pondering a future having not foregone apprenticeship 
 
metalsmith - smitten by the hammer chose to forge the blade 
watchful of the temperature and how it would distort the shape 
atoms fit to shudder and convulse over an open flame 
generations forward, brick & mortars full of golden chains 
 
profit and economy, pockets swole from presidents 
peddle, grit, and hustle - then and now, unbroken testament 
tunnel vision dimming as a lie’s enforced in rhetoric 
coping mechanism for a life conformed to prejudice 

who could ever hurt you once you hate the person you’ve become 
and opportunity has turned to someone quicker to respond 
no one ever said it would be comfortable for you and yours 
when it comes to business, better back it up or scoot along  
 
hunger made him less than civil, scoffing at the gluttonous 
paper-thin provisions but allowed to call it sustenance 
nibble on forbidden fruit in cardigans and button-ups 
copious consumption when you hardly stomach governance 
 
broken bread with blessed coven, squad composed of heretics 
lucid shamans, wandering spirits and sober derelicts 
body, blood, and bullet, ill-advised to be so desperate 
fear of missing out like you about this war and pestilence 
 
chefin’ from a haunted kitchen, summon of the dinner bell 
glad to be of service if you want specific personnel 
farm-to-table offerings, sommelier & zinfandel 
underpaid & overworked to demonstrate we live in hell 
 
above or here below, it’s levels to the drudgery 
calloused from ceramics, napkins enveloping cutlery 
cursing under breath of special guests and their accompanied 
never worked a shift where you were not impaired and stumbling 
 
self-medicate when feeling minuscule 
and try to fill the void with other broken individuals 
estimates for disrepair, no specialists to take it to 
please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules

HDF written and performed by EBONY TUSKS.

Engineered by George Henry Valyer IV at SOUND + VISION Studio, Lawrence Public Library, Lawrence, Kansas. Assistance provided by Joel T. Bonner.

Mixed by George Henry Valyer IV at MalaMUTE Studios in East Lawrence, Kansas.

Mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering, Portland, Oregon. 

Album Cover Photo by LeRoy Pristach.

High Dive Records / Intelligent Sound©️. All rights reserved.

HDF (instrumental)

Produced by Aikido Bray
Additional keys by Asterales
Photo courtesy of LeRoy Pristach
Album artwork by Milkdrop

High Dive Records/Intelligent Sound/Datura Records ©. All rights reserved.

HDF (Aikido Bray Redux)

A rattling subwoofer is a sonic aberration, a byproduct of high volume that often results in a speaker system’s long-term damage. It takes the listening experience from exclusively aural to physical, evoking a range of reactions from listeners. This experience is bonded inextricably with rap music for both its fans and dissenters, a familiar beacon for some and an unwelcome nuisance for others.

Marty was a cashier at Burger King while in high school, spending every Saturday morning working the drive-thru window. One of his best friends pulled up to the menu and filled the speaker with sounds from his 1972 Volkswagen Beetle’s cassette adapter. Marty’s headset was filled with hot, white noise. He knew it was a rap song but it was mutated to scorched earth. It also happened to come through the main speaker right inside the drive-thru window. His manager was not at all pleased, rushing quickly to turn it off. Marty and his friend laughed it off at the time.

EBONY TUSKS is a compilation of moments like these. Daniel, Geese, and Marty are three people from the Midwest who take pleasure in the mutations of sound available in the least expected places.

Daniel Smith – DJ, Production

Geese Giesecke – Vocals, Production

Marty Hillard – Vocals, Production

Inquiries: xebonytusksx@gmail.com